The city of Okazaki in Aichi Prefecture is the birthplace of Okazaki Sekkouhin, a local stone masonry and gem carving craft tradition. Okazaki Sekkouhin are made using traditional masonry techniques that were adopted and developed in the late years of the Muromachi period (1336-1573). Over time, local masonry skills and techniques were developed to such an extent that the area became known as the stone capital of Japan. One of the distinctive characteristics of Okazaki masonry is the use of stone with distinctive marbling, such as Okazaki granite. In 1979, Okazaki stonemasonry was designated as a Japanese traditional craft.